The Observatory provides data, research and information on the Greater London area. This comprises all 32 London boroughs and the City of London. The data available via the Observatory is at a regional level and, where it exists and is reliable, at a borough level. Data is also prepared for five sub-regions:

• Inner London
• Outer London
• London Thames Gateway (covering the 11 local authorities of Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest)
• West London (Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow)
• the Olympic Host Boroughs (Barking & Dagenham, Hackney, Greenwich, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest).

Data for other borough groupings can be prepared on request.
 

There is a wide range of statistics, research and information available on the current state of the London labour market and its potential future trends. The information is often fragmented and there is no agreed overall coherent picture of London’s labour market or its future path. This can create barriers for public and private bodies when planning skills and employment provision in order to meet economic needs, and for professionals when giving advice to individuals and businesses. In order to tackle this problem, the London Skills and Employment Board (LSEB) recommended the establishment of a London Skills & Employment Observatory. Work on the Observatory started in September 2009 and it began providing data, research and information publicly in February 2010.

Information held on the Observatory website is updated continuously. For the statistical sections of the website, content will be updated as and when data is released. See the Data Overview page for further information on the frequency of data releases and their timing.

News, events and updates to research will be posted on the Observatory website weekly. All updates are ‘date stamped’ so it is clear when content was added. We also publish a regular newsletter that provides a round-up of news and recent developments. Sign up to the newsletter here.
 

We welcome your contributions to the Observatory as it is only through your ideas and feedback that we can ensure the information we provide is relevant and useful. You can contribute to the Observatory by:

• talking with one of the team on 020 7840 8349
• getting involved in the Practice and Research Forum
• sharing your knowledge of the strengths and limitations of existing data, analysis or published research by making comments on the relevant web pages
• contributing to our research projects
• telling us what you think of the site and what further information you’d like to see provided, either by email or by submitting the form on our feedback and queries page
• if there is a specific contribution you want to make to our website or wider work, contacts us either online or by email: observatory@cesi.org.uk.

In addition, individuals and organisations can become actively involved in two key aspects of our work:

• Practice and Research Forum: The Forum aims to stimulate debate and discussion on employment and skills issues in London. It is open to anyone involved in planning, funding, delivering or reviewing employment and skills services in the capital, and meets on a monthly basis (with a few exceptions). If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Vicky Davies on 07900 404619 or email us at: observatory@cesi.org.uk.
• Observatory research: The Observatory is responsible for delivering at least four distinct research projects between April 2010 and March 2012. We are keen to ensure that these provide an opportunity for all users to engage with practitioners and policy makers on issues of particular importance to London in a variety of ways, including workshops. Our first project was on youth unemployment in London and our second was on the Work Programme. Details of future projects and opportunities to become involved will be shared via the website.
   

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